Don’t wait, vaccinate! (Sept EBSI)

Protect yourself & others

by getting vaccinated

As your mother may have told you, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” One of the best and easiest things we can do to prevent certain diseases is to get vaccinations. Adults may also be at risk for vaccine-preventable disease due to age, job, lifestyle, travel, or health conditions.

Flu season is on the way

Flu season lasts from October through March and flu kills up to 500,000 people worldwide each year. Ninety percent of those deaths are people over 65, whose immune systems can weaken with age. Many others are hospitalized with severe flu symptoms, which also make us more vulnerable to having a heart attack, stroke, or pneumonia.

Protect yourself & others

You cannot get the flu from the vaccination, but it takes about two weeks for your body to develop immunity after the shot. Many adults in the U.S. are not aware of the vaccines they may need – talk to your doctor to make sure you are up to date on the vaccines that are right for you.

1. Vaccines SAVE lives. Vaccine-preventable diseases can cause long-term illness, hospitalization, and even death. Skipping vaccines can leave you vulnerable to illnesses such as influenza (flu), pneumococcal disease, and shingles. Vaccines also protect against diseases like human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis B.

2. You can REDUCE the chance of spreading disease. Many vaccine-preventable diseases are contagious, like flu, pertussis (whooping cough), and meningitis. Getting your recommended vaccines can reduce the risk that you get sick and spread disease to others. Some people may not be able to get certain vaccines based on age, health conditions, or other factors even though they are vulnerable to illness. You help protect them by getting vaccinated.

3. If you smoke or have a chronic health condition such as asthma, diabetes, heart, or lung disease you are at higher risk.Adults with these conditions, and weakened immune systems, are more likely to develop complications from certain vaccine-preventable diseases.

4. You can remain healthy when you Travel. If you are heading to the developing world, you may be exposed to illnesses not circulating in the United States. CDC’s travel website provides details about what vaccinations you may need for your destination.

5. Other vaccines may also help protect against diseases. In addition to the seasonal flu vaccine and Td or Tdap vaccine (tetanus, diphtheris, and pertussis), people 65 years and older should also get: 1. Pneumococcal vaccines, which protect against pneumococcal disease, including infections in the lungs and bloodstream. 2. Zoster vaccine, which protects against shingles.